July 02. 2013 3:02PMCONCORD - While unlikely to change the habits of the motoring public, Gov. Maggie Hassan today signed into law a 5 mph increase in the speed limit on Interstate 93 north of Exit 18.

HB 146 raises the speed limit from 65 mph to 70 miles per hour on the rural section of Interstate 93 from Canterbury to the Vermont border, excluding the stretch through Franconia Notch.

"We must always be cautious when considering speed-limit increases in order to maintain the safety of our citizens and of visitors using our highways," said Hassan. "The limited nature of the 5 mile-per-hour speed limit increase in a targeted region of the state, along with the overwhelming, bipartisan support for the measure, makes me comfortable with signing this measure into law, bringing the speed limit more in line with the habits of our rural travelers."

The governor urged motorists to use common sense and respect the new slightly less restrictive speed limit.

The new limit isn't expected to change the way people drive.

As North Country Sen. Jeff Woodburn, D-Dalton, explained during Senate consideration of the bill, the change simply reflects the will of motorists. Most drivers on the interstate are driving at least 70 miles per hour, he said.

"The law lives in the hearts of the people, not in the signs on the side of the road," the Dalton Democrat said.